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Bear Grass and Echinocactus


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Cactus or Succulent  
Perennial  

Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico  
Southwestern United States, Mexico  

Types
Echinocactus parryi, Echinocactus texensis  
Nolina microcarpa, Nolina texana  

Number of Varieties
50  
99+
30  
99+

Habitat
Desert, Gravels, Sandy areas  
Desert, Foot Hills, High elevation, Upland, Woodlands  

USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15  
-9999  

AHS Heat Zone
12-10  
12-5  

Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24  
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Oval or Rounded  
Cushion/Mound-forming  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
30.00 cm  
99+
152.40 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
30.00 cm  
99+
121.92 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta  
White, Green  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Yellow  
-  

Leaf Color in Spring
-  
Yellow green  

Leaf Color in Summer
-  
Yellow green  

Leaf Color in Fall
-  
Yellow green  

Leaf Color in Winter
-  
Light Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Succulent  
Grass like  

Thorns
Yes  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Growth Rate
Slow  
Slow  

Type of Soil
Loam, Sand  
Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer  
Late Spring  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Container, Ground, Pot  

How to Plant?
Seedlings  
Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry  
Average Water Needs, Water once every two or three weeks  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Moderate  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Type
Loam, Sand  
Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
fertilize in summer, Potassium  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer  

Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Spider mites  
Red blotch  

Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Yes  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
No  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
Yes  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Bold  
Fine  

Foliage Sheen
-  
Matte  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
No  

Self-Sowing
No  
No  

Attracts
Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites  
Butterflies  

Allergy
Skin cuts  
Anxiety, Depression, High blood cholestrol, High blood pressure, Pain, Stress  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
No  
Insignificant  

Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Very little waste  
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for animals, Provides ground cover  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
-  

Part of Plant Used
Whole plant  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant  
Animal Feed  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall  
Rock Garden, Wall  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS  
NOLINA microcarpa  

Common Name
Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball  
Sacahuista, Palmilla  

In Hindi
echinocactus  
Bear Grass  

In German
echinocactus  
Bärn-Gras  

In French
echinocactus  
ours Herbe  

In Spanish
echinocactus  
Hierba de oso  

In Greek
Echinocactus  
αρκούδα Grass  

In Portuguese
Echinocactus  
bear Grass  

In Polish
Echinocactus  
miś Trawa  

In Latin
Echinocactus  
herbas ferunt  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Tracheophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Liliopsida  

Order
Caryophyllales  
Liliales  

Family
Cactaceae  
Liliaceae  

Genus
Echinocactus  
Nolina Michx  

Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  
Angiosperms, Monocots  

Tribe
Cacteae  
-  

Subfamily
Cactoideae  
Nolinoideae  

Number of Species
11  
99+
500  
99+

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